Skiing in Oregon

Oregon and skiing go together like peanut butter and jelly. The Cascade Mountain range runs through the western part of the state and the Rocky Mountains make a flirtatious nudge in the northeast corner. These two spots form the highlights for skiing in Oregon, and the varying weather patterns means that if the Cascades don’t have powder, the Rockies probably do.

11 Primary Slopes in Oregon

With the Cascades running the height of the state, there are several choices where you can hit the slopes. However, the three premium areas in the west are around Ashland, Mt. Bachelor and Mt. Hood. Hood is in the northern region along the Washington State border and has the Skibowl, Cooper Spur, Timberline Lodge, and the Meadows. Mount Bachelor is just east of Eugene, and has Hoodoo, Willamette Pass and the 3683-acre playground of Bachelor itself. Ashland rests on the California border. Spout Springs is the major resort if you’re looking to play in the Rockies. Scattered along the southern border are two other resorts of note: Warner Canyon and Anthony Lakes.

For state residents, this means no matter where you are in the state, you’re never more than a couple of hours away from premium powder. Traveling from out of state, it’s wise to match your ski resort to your airport, most often Portland or Eugene, though Boise is actually the closest option for Spout Springs.

Things to Know about Oregon Skiing

Mount Hood has one of the first public transportation systems that hits three major ski areas, Skibowl, Summit, and Timberline Lodge. Timberline is also the only resort with year-round skiing and often is cheaper to ski in the winter. So if you’re craving some sweet downhill action in the middle of June, you know where to go.

The ski areas in Oregon are also easier to get to. You won’t be driving up treacherous passes to get to places, because the Cascades are gentler mountains than the Rockies. Don’t think that this means that the slopes won’t have runs that challenge you. Even Warner Canyon has seven black runs meant to thrill and push you to your limits.

There is one more thing to keep in mind when you are driving to your next slope. Oregon is one of two states in the country that prohibits drivers from pumping their own gas (The other is New Jersey). Despite this however, gas prices in Oregon are definitely cheaper than those in neighboring Washington and California.

Being Smart about Skiing in Oregon

If you’re going to be skiing in Oregon, there are quite a few ways to make your dollar stretch. Tips include buying your gear online before you hit the slopes and packing your own lunch ahead of time to avoid paying resort prices for a sandwich. Rent online with us and take advantage of a 20% discount. We can get you the best deals so that you can make your vacation last longer. We deal with ski resorts on a regular basis to create relationships that we can make work for you.

Your Oregon ski-cation doesn’t have to stress you out. You’re heading to the slopes for fun and relaxation, so let us help.